Despite the darkness, the path up to the high peak was lit with torches. They weren't bright but they did allow the procession to follow the way up. A group of three people made their way up the mountain at a decent pace. They weren't slow, but they weren't fast either as they made their way up the spiralling path. It was pathed with stone, allowing the group to walk up barefoot to the summit of the mounting for the ritual. As they were nearing the top they could hear cries and screams of fear, but they didn't take any notice. It wasn't as if anything was going to change.

Soon they reached the peak, an almost flat top set in an almost circle. At the far end, opposite where the path ended, was a small carved stone plinth. Torches burning blue fire sat around the plinth and the edges of the peak with spikes of skulls placed between them. Two braziers sat either side of a path leading to the plinth. Next to them were prisoners of war, 20 in all on their knees held by blue hands. Their bound wrists and ankles prevented their escape along with several hooded figures holding spears made from bones.

Stepping onto the wooden path, the lead figure who led the possession removed their cloak. The blue Asari wore a wrap around her hips and chest with teeth and bones hanging from small pieces of string hanging from the wraps. Her body was also covered in white and blad paint set in lines that moved along her body in old Asari medical texts. Some humans said it looked like the chakras from one of their religions, but she dismissed it. Why would she care about a weak race's religion?

She walked towards the plinth; arms raised out to the side. In the distance was one of the floating Obelisks, the red one, and today was the day to give it the offering.

"Oh Goddess, my Goddess, our victory against those unworthy of your sight have been gathered as thanks for your grace," she bowed and indicated for one of the guards to bring a male Turrian over.

He struggled, but that didn't stop the guards from pulling him over and pressing him to his knees. The Asari turned and walked up to him. How was gagged so his protestations wouldn't reach her holy ears. She chanted as she brought up a bone blade and slid it into his chest then sliding it down to open him up. He yelled out as the guard who held him placed a blade against this throat. As the painted asari reached in she found his heart and pulled it out as the guard removed his head.

She takes the head and heart before turning to raise them above her head at the obelisk in the distance. "For the Triumvirate,"

"For the Triumvirate!" the guards called out before the head was handed to one of the followers.

The painted Asari placed the heart on the plinth while the follower began to skin and remove the flesh from the head. While that was happening, another prisoner was brought up for the same ritual to be performed on them. By dawn 10 freshly peeled skulls now sat on pikes as the group left the peak.

OOOOO

"We got orders," Sonja said as she entered the main living room where the crew was gathered minus Mordin. "We're cleared to go into the forbidden zone to investigate what the Triumvirate are planning,"

"Took long enough," Jack muttered with more than a hint of annoyance.

"So, what's the plan?" Wrex asked.

Sonja looked to Joker. "Got your airships flight licence?" she asked and he smiled and nodded.

"Not the same as the Normandy, but still… I can fly,"

"Good," she said. "We've been issued a ship, a frigate. It will be big enough and fast enough for all of us. We set out in 5 days, if you need anything feel free to plunder my armour ang use my money to get new equipment. Just don't spend too much,"

A chuckle echoed across the room at that. "What are you planning?" Ashley asked.

"I need to get supplies and make sure that my farm is tended to for a little while longer," Sonja smiled before heading out. "5 days dock 7,"

OOOOO

Lilith stood on the training ground as she looked over her newest cadets. When new soldiers were brought to the Ark, the Scaled Fang had them brought into their military and undergo a few weeks of training. Most of it was just getting them used to the new equipment and new environment teeming with life that could kill you if you slept wrong. That and utilising said life as mounts. It was entertaining to see hardened soldiers riding raptors for the first time and having them fall off.

But right now, Lilith was keeping calm and silent as she watched James, Abby, Lynn, Traynor and Reeger as they moved though a training area using live rounds to take out metal targets. Their movements were good, as was their spacing and keeping eyes behind them. Oriana and Sarah, weren't going to go though this. Oriana was placed with administration thanks to her mind being able to account for a lot of things. It was kind of scary. Sarah, however was perfect for organising and supplying but she seemed to be a little out of it due to the fact that she left her husband behind.

Things like that needed time for people to get over. Lilith more or less went though the same time as she practically lost her entire family. So, she understood what the youngest Williams was going though. But unlike her, she had to deal with the fact that her sister was still alive. It was hard to accept because she had spent her entire life thinking that Sonja was dead. But now, not only did she have to come to terms that her sister was alive, but considered to be a hero by a good portion of the Galaxy.

It was strange. On the one had she was impressed by her sister's exploits. On the other, she was jealous and angry that her sister was alive and did everything like that. It was petty, yes, but when one finds out their long dead sister is alive and has done so much, it's hard not to let all the emotions out. Shaking her head, she watched as the team finished up the live fire exercise. As they moved over to a locker room, an alarm sounded indicating that the area was clear. With that she moved down to the area and began to look at how well they did.

While she did this, Alekno walked into the locker rooms. "I've been watching good job to you all," he smiled.

"Well, we are Williams after all," Abby smiled as she looked to her sister who shared a high five.

James just smiled and shook his head. He was about to speak as Lilith walked in. "Top marks for all," she announced with a smile before nodding towards Alenko. "Sir," she muttered before looking back at team. "With that, you are now members of the Scaled Fang, congratulations. Now, first mission," she looked to Alenko.

He nodded. "We're going to be venturing out to one of our outer settlements, guard change so it shouldn't be too bad in terms of activity," he shrugged. "We'll leave in a couple of days,"

"SIR," the four said with salutes.

OOOOO

As the light poured into the room, Tali groaned as she sat up. looking around. She had been in this hospital for the past couple of weeks getting used to the fact that she no longer had her suit. Pulling her legs close, she began to rock slightly, using the mental techniques to calm herself down. It felt weird, strange, empty not to have the suit around it. Like a limb had been torn form her unwillingly.

Taking a deep breath, she let it out slowly. Calming herself down letting the flow of air flow though her to let her blood flow slowly. This wasn't much new to her but the technique was. Quraians, while not inherently spiritual, did have similar mediation and breathing techniques that helped them achieve, what the humans call, zen. Or at least the Quraian equivalent. Which was a point of surprise for her.

Tali was bought up in an environment where everyone had to do their part. Population, food, water and more was strictly regulated. It had to be for the migrant fleet in order for it to survive. But now… now she met Quraian monks, the one thig she never expected to see ever again. During the Geth war, there were a few groups that refused to leave the homeworld. One of them being the Ran Monks. The major religious group of Quraian culture that died at the end of the war when they were hunted down and killed.

According to several humans, the Quraian monks reminded them of the Tibetan or Shaolin monks who secluded themselves in temples for most, if not all, of their lives to reach enlightenment. But unlike the human monks, the Quraian ones didn't deprive themselves of things like family and sex. Given that Quraian culture was focused around family and ancestor worship it wasn't that surprising.

What to Tali, and what she wasn't aware of, that one part to this worship was venerating certain ancestors like Kal'vas Baor who was considered to be some kind of a warrior god. It was somewhat of a surprise to her, but then again much of Quraian culture was lost in the 300 years since the war ended. So, it was good to see that her old culture managed to survive here. With herself calm, she stood and made her way out of the dorm room she was in.

The building she was in was a form of temple where local Quraians, and new arrivals, could get used to the fact that they no longer wore their suits. She was glad about that and picked up a lot of the long dead culture that her people had lost. Walking out into a wide circular garden, she took a deep preach of the sent of fresh pollen and air before walking over to an open prayer mat and sat cross legged as she was shown before closing her eyes. Taking in the scents around her she breathed slowly and deeply. She did this a few times as she did her best to reflect on what her ancestors did in the past and how she could learn from them.

She tried to tame her mind, but it was of little use as she kept thinking about what she had left behind. Granted she wasn't much of a spiritual person, but she still took part in her people's beliefs. It was something ingrained into her just like everyone on the Normandy. Ashley had a habit of saying 'itadakimasu' before every meal, Sonja did her own mediations and Garrus offered gifts to the spirits.

Reconnecting to a part of her old culture was somewhat fulfilling to her. A connection that she didn't even realise she was missing. Breathing out again, she felt someone next to her to find Sonja sitting next to her looking at the wall in front of them.

"Commander," Tali nodded.

"Tali," Sonja smiled as she turned to the young Quraian. "You doing, ok?"

"I'm doing fine, just asking for some guidance," she replied.

Sonja nodded. "That's good to hear, I've come to ask if you are ready to join us," she pulled out a sheet of parchment and handed it to her. "We've got ordered to go into a forbidden zone,"

Tali took the sheet and read it. "And you are wondering if I am well enough to come right?"

"I need an engineer," Sonja said. "And you are one of the best,"

Tali just scoffed at that. "Really?" she smiled. "Adventure, treasure and more?"

"And more," Sonja smiled and the two laughed.